For those in need of an inexpensive thin-and-light laptop for home or school (but not necessarily the thinnest or lightest), the Dell Inspiron 14 5000 series is worth putting on your list despite its imperfections.

While the entry model is less of a bargain than it used to be and configurations are limited, the thin, aluminum-clad Dell Inspiron 14 7000 remains an attractive option for its looks, performance, and price.

Dell's Inspiron line continues to look sharper than its budget reputation would suggest. The new touch-enabled version of the 15z works as a reasonably priced Windows 8 laptop with a big screen and an optical drive.